Debutant No. 10 'Has'an smiles all the way to majestic hundred

As a true admirer of Test cricket, it was heartening and ever so refreshing to see thousands of locals queue up the streets leading to the gates of Bangladesh's newest and 7th Test venue making its debut for the 2nd Test against the West Indies. The atmosphere was buzzing and the excitement of seeing an international cricket match for the first time, palpable. Tickets for the first two days had been sold out.

The crowds were not disappointed as after two sessions of despair and disappointment, they were treated to and witnessed one of the most sensational centuries by debutant Abul Hasan, who coming in at No.10 cracked a blistering 100 off just 108 deliveries and along with No.8 Mahmudullah, was involved in a remarkable fightback which lifted Bangladesh from a hapless 193/8 to 365 at close of play on Day 1 of the 2nd Test. The pair put on an unbeaten 172 run stand off just 180 deliveries for the 9th wicket to leave everyone stunned at Khulna!

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. They made a couple of changes, Nazimuddin and Abul Hasan were drafted in while Junaid Siddique and Shahadat Hossain sat out. West Indies brought in Fidel Edwards in place of Ravi Rampaul.

Fidel Edwards justified his selection getting rid of Nazimuddin in the 3rd over of the innings. Tamim Iqbal and Shahriar Nafees began the re-building process. They left the good deliveries alone but at the same time put the bad ones away and kept the scoreboard ticking.

They had put on 59 for the 2nd wicket before skipper Darren Sammy brought himself back into the attack and jolted the hosts with a double blow. He first got rid of Nafees for 26 and then cleaned up Tamim Iqbal for 32 - the southpaw offered no shot, misjudged the line of the ball and had his off-stump uprooted. Bangladesh went into Lunch at 88/3 with Naeem Islam and Shakib Al Hasan at the crease.

Sammy was unlucky not to pick up his 3rd wicket of the innings, when immediately after the break, Shakib Al Hasan was dropped by Darren Bravo at 2nd slip - a sitter. However, the misery of the hosts continued as Naeem Islam played on to a Fidel Edwards delivery in the next over and was sent packing for 16. Bangladesh were now reeling at 93 for 4. The skipper Mushfiqur Rahim walked out to the centre to face the music.

The situation got from bad to worse for the home team when Fidel Edwards picked up his 3rd wicket of the innings and his 2nd post Lunch, getting Bangladesh's best batsman, Shakib Al Hasan, caught behind for 17 off the faintest of edges. The capacity crowd at Khulna were stunned into silence! The hosts had lost half their team and hadn't reached triple figures yet. Edwards was bowling with pace and heart, pitching the ball up and getting a hint of movement from an essentially dead and docile wicket.

The Bangladeshi captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, together with Nasir Hossain began the resurrection process. They mixed caution with aggression and were not afraid to take the odd risk or two. Hossain targeted Sunil Narine, clobbering him for a couple of boundaries in the 42nd over. He then thumped Permaul for 2 boundaries in the over, taking the attack to the West Indies spinners. The pair brought up the 50 run partnership in just 13.3 overs. Hossain changed gears. He took 12 off Narine's 10th over, smacking him for a four and a six. He soon brought up his 2nd fifty of the series, off just 62 deliveries. His honeymoon was soon ended though, as he took a risk too many and tried to get after Permaul once too often, only to be caught at mid on for 52.

Fidel Edwards continued to impress and picked up his 4th wicket when he got rid of the Bangladesh skipper, Mushfiqur Rahim for a dogged 38. He picked up his 12th fifer in Test cricket when he removed Sohag Gazi for a duck. The hosts were now in dire straights at 193 for 8.

Then came the turning point of the match - Mahmudullah and Abul Hasan joined hands - they came, they saw and finally they conquered! They took calculated risks and batted cleverly to start with - getting the boundaries and also showing good defense. They applied themselves and stuck it out in the middle unlike the more fancied top order. Abul Hasan, who was making his debut as a bowler showed great resolve and temperament and struck the ball cleanly. He slammed Sammy for a four and then a blistering six over long-off to score his maiden Test fifty at almost a run-a-ball. The West Indies were losing the plot. They weren't prepared for this counter attack and onslaught. The crowds were dancing in the isles - the smiles had returned on their faces. What a fightback it had been by Bangladesh! The pair had added 89 in just 15 overs. Both were dropped at silly-mid-on relatively early in their innings. Mahmudullah was giving the debutant ideal support from the other end. Hasan went from strength to strength - he cracked 3 boundaries off Samuels in his 2nd over to bring the 100 run stand for the 9th wicket, of which 66 were scored by Hasan.

Sammy had no answers. The West Indies were now on the defensive . The field was spread. No. 8 and No. 10 were batting like No. 3 and No. 4. The vice-captain, Mahmudullah soon brought up his fifty - a resilient and defiant knock. It was total carnage in the middle - absolute madness! But there was a method to the madness. The shot selection was impeccable and there was hardly any slogging. Sunil Narine was targeted. He was wicket-less and went for plenty.

Bangladesh had moved to 331 for 8 after 80 overs. The partnership was now worth 138. The West Indies were shell-shocked! Hurricane Hasan had hit the West Indies - and hit them very badly indeed!

Sammy opted for the new ball. The runs continued to flow. The partnership crossed the 150 mark. The crowds were going berserk! Bangladesh had crossed their highest score in a single day.

Abul Hasan was a little nervous in his nineties but soon reached the one of the most incredible centuries witnessed in Test cricket history. The stadium rose for they had been privileged to a once in a lifetime performance by a 20 year old. The debut ground had seen a magical batting performance by a bowler on debut. It was the 4th hundred by a No.10 in Test history and only the 2nd instance when a No.10 had scored a century on debut - after Reggie Duff of Australia scored 104 against England 110 years ago on New Year's Day in Melbourne!

Bangladesh ended Day 1 at 365 for 8 off 86 overs. 179 runs were added in just 32 overs post Tea. Abul Hasan remained unbeaten on 100 while Mahmudullah who gave him excellent support, was there at the crease on 72. The pair had added the most exhilarating 172 runs off just 180 deliveries. 'Khulna' had certainly opened the doors for a new dawn in Bangladeshi cricket.